Alden John Bell (July 11, 1904 – August 28, 1982) was a 20th-century bishop of the Catholic Church in the United States. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Sacramento in California from 1962 to 1979. Biography Early life Alden John Bell was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He completed his undergraduate education at Saint Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California, and his graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. While at the seminary in 1927, Bell was one of three pastoral interns who were assigned to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Altadena, California. Priesthood He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Los Angeles-San Diego on May 14, 1932. In 1935, Father Bell persuaded the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus to teach at the Sacred Heart Mission. Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles On April 11, 1956, Bell was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Titular Bishop of Rhodopolis by Pope Pius XII. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 4 in St. Vibiana's Cathedral from Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, with Bishops Joseph Thomas McGucken and Timothy Manning serving as co-consecrators. On November 10, 1956, Bell blessed La Salle High School two months after it opened. On March 9, 1957 Bell consecrated the high altar at St. Kevin's Church, Los Angeles. On October 26, 1957, Bell presided over the gymnasium dedication at Junípero Serra High School in Gardena, California. Bishop of Sacramento On March 30, 1962, Bell was appointed the sixth Bishop of Sacramento by Pope John XXIII. He was installed on May 15, 1962, in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento. During the 1960s, Bell learned that a brass locomotive bell, donated by a retired Southern Pacific Railroad parishioner, was going to be installed in All Hallows Church in Sacramento. The church had been built without a bell in 1960 with a large campanile. Bell instructed Pastor Cornelius O'Connor not to place the bell in the tower, but to buy a proper church bell instead. O'Connor declined to buy a new bell, and declared that his parish would have no bells. On September 17, 1963, Bell dedicated Jesuit High School, Sacramento, to the Jesuit North American Martyrs. In May 1982, he returned to this school to dedicate its library in memory of the Rev. Joseph J. King, S.J.On April 2, 1965, Bell dedicated the fourth rebuilding of